Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has provided a concerning update on son Kyle after the playmaker was taken to hospital after a sickening incident in Sunday’s loss to Gold Coast. The Titans got their season up and running and gave Josh Hannay his first NRL win as a head coach after coming from behind to beat the Dragons 22-14.
But the match was overshadowed by a brutal second half head clash for Dragons playmaker Flanagan, that prompted a lengthy delay before the 27-year-old was stretchered off the field. The Dragons No.6 clashed heads with teammate Hayden Buchanan in the 61st minute as the pair attempted to tackle Titans debutant Oliver Pascoe.
Dragons playmaker Kyle Flanagan was taken to hospital after being knocked out in a sickening head clash with a teammate during the NRL Round 4 loss to the Titans. Pic: Getty
It sparked immediate concern for Flanagan as he lay motionless on the turf and medical staff rushed onto the ground to attend to him. Fortunately, the five-eighth was able to move his arms as he was placed on a medicab and whisked off the ground.
Nine’s Danny Weidler revealed he’d been released from hospital early on Monday morning after escaping serious injury. But the Dragons five-eighth is expected to face a stint on the sidelines as he recovers from the brutal incident.
Coach Flanagan says he spoke to his son before he left for hospital, but revealed that he was not in a good way. The Dragons mentor was understandably rattled after providing a grim update on his son and an incident that sparked a flood of messages from fans wishing the playmaker a speedy recovery.
“He’s not good. He was taken to hospital. He was unconscious for what someone said was five minutes, so that is a big concern,” the Dragons coach said post-match. “He rang his mum and rang his wife and they are taking precautionary X-rays. He has got feeling in his legs and movement, so let’s hope he is OK.”
Titans snap winless run after scary scenes for Kyle Flanagan
Flanagan refused to use it as an excuse for his side’s fourth-straight loss but was clearly rocked by the incident around his son. “It was definitely a challenge. I had to get myself together and regroup and know we have got good medical staff and he’d be OK,” coach Flanagan added.
“He is talking. He was a bit agitated. He is one of the toughest kids you are ever going to see, so he didn’t want to go in the ambulance. He’d prefer to sit in the car, but that is just the way he is. It wasn’t nice to see.”
The Dragons led 14-6 early in the second half before Arama Hau blew the game open with a match-winninng double for the Titans. A clever pass from Jayden Campbell put the Gold Coast back-rower over from 30m out, before the halfback kicked a penalty goal to level the contest.
Gold Coast back-rower Arama Hau (centre) scored a superb double against the Dragons to give the Titans their first win of the NRL season. Pic: Getty
(Chris Hyde via Getty Images)
It was Campbell’s ball that helped Hau smashed through the Dragons’ defence inside the final 10 minutes before he raced clear from halfway and touched clear and scored a sensational 50m try to win the game. “It’s good to get that monkey off the back,” Hannay said after the Titans gave the rookie coach his first victory in the NRL.
“I am really happy for the players. They are working really hard. I’d defy anyone at the moment to watch this team and say they are not a gritty, tough and connected group. We have got to improve in a lot of areas, but I am really proud.”
with AAP